Pontoon water skates



y 0, 1955 M. w. BROWN 2,707,789

' PONTOON WATER SKATES Filed May 15, 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 40 4/INVENTOR) Marvin W Brown. 7 BY HTTORNEYS.

May 10, 1955 M. w BROWN 2,707,789

PONTOON WATER SKATES Filed May 13, 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 .I II

INVENTOR, Marquz M Brown,

P BY A aw wm m HTTORNEYS- y 10, 1955 M. w. BROWN 2,707,789

PONTOON WATER SKATES Filed May 13. 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 HTTORNEYS.

May 10, 1955 M. w. BROWN 2,707,789.

PONTOC/JN WATER SKATES Filed May 15, 1953 v 6 Shets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR,

margin W. Brown,

HTTORNEY y 0, 1955 M. w. BROWN 2,707,789

PONTOON WATER SKATES Fil ed May 15, 195:5

e She ets-Shee t 5 INVENTOR, Wamgdn M B1-own HTTORNEYG May 10, 1955 M.w. BROWN PONTOON WATER SKATES 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed May 13, 1953 IQ/$3.44s. 2

INVENTOR, flaw in MBrow/ z.

HTTGRNEY5P PONTOON WATER SKATES Marvin W. Brown, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application May 13, 1953, Serial No. 354,725

9 Claims. (Cl. 9-21) This invention relates to individual travel onwater such as may be useful for fishermen, life guards, Navy and CoastGuard personnel and for the playing of water sports. For convenience,the invention may be termed a water ski.

One of the important objects of the invention is to in straight lines bythe provision of keel-like structures carried by the device.

A fourth important object of the invention is to provide fin-likestructures for a device of this kind whereby movement of the leg towardthe rear of the body will cause engagement of the fins in the water andpropel the user forwardly.

A fifth important object of the invention is to provide a device of thischaracter which may be tied to a similar device to prevent unwantedlateral spreading of the user's legs.

atent O Fig. 14 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view of twodevices, showing particularly two straps 31a.

Fig. 15 is a top plan view of two hand pontoons.

Fig. 16 is a transverse sectional view, line 16--16 Fig. 15.

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary view, showing the straps and the other parts.

In each form of the invention herein disclosed there is provided anouter casing for hull of waterproof fabric 10 formed to take a definiteshape when fully expanded. This hull has its lower part of generalboat-like form as shown at 11, in Figs. 2 3, and 6 and arising from thislower part 11 is an upstanding pair of side members 12 which meettogether at the forward and after ends as shown at 13 in Fig. 8, themeeting portions being vertical in position and these meeting portionsare expanded at their lower ends to make transverse pockets 14. Thishull member is provided on each side of the portions 12 with a slit 15which, when in use, is held closed by a lacing 16 in the manner of theusual football. Within the hull casing 10 is located a pair ofelastically inflatable bags 17 conforming in shape to the half sectioninterior form of the hulls 10 as shown in Fig. 7, the lower parts ofthese bags joining in a vertical line as shown at 18. The inner portionsof the hull body 10 are spread apart as at 19 to form a shuttle shapedopening 20. The end portions of the hull and the inflation bags overhangthe secure the lower parts of the users legs to such platforms.

A seventh important object of the invention is to provide a device ofthis character which may be collapsed for transportation and inflatedfor use.

portions 19 as at 21 and 22, the arrangement of the part 21 being suchas to provide a space 23 for the forward end of the users foot.

Resting on the bottom of the opening 19 and extending forwardly andaftward beneath the parts 21 and 22 ber and carrying ring 28 engageablearound the leg L o the user and secured thereto by strap means 29. I

These devices are intended to be used in pairs and in spaced side byside relation. In order to provide for limiting the distance between thedevices of a pair of hulls, plates '30 are secured to the lower part ofeach hull section and carry rings 31, the plates 30 being locatedamidships of the device. Several plates 32 are located on the forwardand after ends of the hull member at each side thereof and carry grabirons 33 so that in certain uses With the above and other objects inView, the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, andparticu- 5K larly claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, like characters of ref- I erence indicatelike parts, and- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one form of the device.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view thereof.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 66 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 77.of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 88 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a bottom plan view of one modification of the invention.

Fig. 10 is a bottom plan view of a second modification of the invention.

of the invention the hands of the user may grip these irons when hecrouches and reaches either forward or backward.

At the top of the structure each side portion 12 is joined toward thecenter by Wide elastic straps 34 and towards the ends these sides aresimilarly joined by elastic straps'35. In order to inflate the innerbags, suitable valves 36 are provided, there being one of these valvesfor each of the inflation bags.

in the form shown in Figs. 1 to 8, there is secured to the underside ofthe hull member 10 a transverse plate the hull fabric. On the shaft 39between the hinge eyes 5 38 are fitted hinge eyes 42 extending fromwhich are curved propulsion blades 43, these blades having their concavesides positioned toward the rear of the hull. Extending from the convexside of each blade is a fin I member 44.

' Fig. 11 is a detailed view showing a modified manner of supportingthefins and keel structures.

Fig. 12 is a detail showing further modification of the fin and keelstructures.

Fig. 13 is a top .plan view of several of the devices fastened togetherby means of straps 31a.

Stops 45 are carried by the plates 37 forwardly of the blades43 andthese stops, tolimit forward movement of the blades 43, engage in theangle of the blade and the top .ofthe keel member. By this means whenthe foot .is

swung forwardly the blades 43 assume the dotted line position shown inFig. 1,. but when the foot is swung rearwardly, the blades assume thefull line position. Thus, the keel members 44 do not operate withrearward movement of the leg as shown in the full line position of Fig.1, but depend vertically from the blade in the dotted line position asthe users foot moves forward.

In the form shown in Fig. 9, the plates 37 are replaced by a diagonallydisposed plate 46 and the blades 47 and keel member 48 are carried bydiagonally disposed shaft 49.

In the form shown in Fig. diagonally disposed plates 50 are attached tothe bottom of the hull and carry diagonally disposed shafts 51, whereonare mounted blade members 52 and keel members 53. Stops 54 are providedfor the same purpose as the stops 45. Fig. 11 is a detailed sideelevation showing the appearance of one of the propulsion devicesillustrated in Fi g. I, when the blade 52 is in vertical position forpushing the hull 10 to the right and it will be noted that the keelmember 53 in this case, as shown in Fig. 12, does not extend directlyfore and aft of the hull, but at an angle thereto so that when the blade52 folds up toward the bottom of the hull, this blade compensates forthe lateral thrust just effected by the diagonally disposed blade 52.

In Fig. 13 a series of the pontoons are shown in top plan, securedtogether by straps 31a. These straps 31a are better shown in sideelevation in Fig. 14. This hookup of Fig. 13 forms a largelife-preserver or raft.

A pair of small hand pontoons 33b are shown in Fig. 15, provided withstraps 31c, and with buttons 31d or the like, to permit each attachmentand removal. The straps are most useful when a person wishes to use thepontoons for assistance in balancing and gaining an upright position onthe water. They might also be useful to give an expert extra buoyancyneeded when helping someone else. Without straps, the hand pontoons maybe used like any football or handball.

Obviously, when it is desired to transport these devices, they aredeflated and the deflated portions are collapsed toward the platform 24,thus making a compact bundle for shipment or other transportation. Ofcourse, when the devices are to be used they must be again inflated,which can be done by any type of pump such as is used in inflatingautomobile tires.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form andconstruction of this invention without departing from the materialprinciples thereof. It is not therefore desired to confine the inventionto the exact form herein shown and described. but it is wished toinclude all such as properly come within the scope claimed.

What is claimed, is:

I. In a device of the kind described, a body inflatable to boat shape, apair of propulsion devices attached to the under side of said body, saidbody having an outer member of waterproof fabric and an inner member ofcxpansible balloon-like material holding the outer member in shape uponexpansion by inflation, said body having a lower portionsegmento-circular in cross-section extending from end to end of thebody, said inner member having a lower side resting on the bottom of thebody and an upper side spaced above said lower side and having a pair ofhollow sides extending upwardly from the lower portion said inner andouter members forming a cushioned foot supporting surface. and meansadapted to secure a users foot to said body.

2. In a device of the kind described, a body inflatable to boat shape, apair of propulsion devices attached to the under side of said body, saidbody having an outer member of waterproof fabric and an inner member ofexpansible balloon-like material holding the outer member in shape uponexpansion by inflation, said body having a lower portionsegmento-circular in cross-section extending from end to end of thebody. said inner member having a lower side resting on the bottom of thebody and an upper side spaced above said lower side and having a pair ofhollow sides extending upwardly from the lower portion said inner andouter members forming a cushioned foot supporting surface, said sidesbeing in contact at their forward and after ends and laterally spaced attheir central portions, and means adapted to secure a users foot to saidbody.

3. In a device of the kind described, a body inflatable to boat shape, apair of propulsion devices attached to the under side of said body, saidbody having an outer member of waterproof fabric and an inner member ofexpansible balloon-like material holding the outer member in shape uponexpansion by inflation, said body having a lower portionsegmento-circular in cross-section extending from end to end of thebody, said inner member having a lower side resting on the bottom of thebody and an upper side spaced above said lower side and having a pair ofhollow sides extending upwardly from the lower portion said inner andouter members forming a cushioned foot supporting surface, said sidesbeing in contact at their forward and after ends and laterally spaced attheir central portions, and means adapted to secure a user's foot tosaid body, said means including a platform resting on the lower portionof the body and having its end portions extending beneath the contactingside portions at each end of the body and further including footengaging straps carried by said body and leg straps supported from saidsides.

4. In a device of the kind described, a body inflatable to boat shape, apair of propulsion devices attached to the under side of said body, saidbody having an outer member of waterproof fabric and an inner member ofexpansible balloon-like material holding the outer member in shape uponexpansion by inflation, said body having a lower portionsegmento-circular in cross-section extending from end to end of thebody, said inner member having a lower side resting on the bottom of thebody and an upper side spaced above said lower side and having a pair ofhollow sides extending upwardly from the lower portion said inner andouter members forming a cushioned foot supporting surface, means adaptedto secure a users foot to said body, each propulsion device extendingacross said body and hinged thereto to swing between vertical andhorizontal position rearwardly from its hinge.

5. In a device of the kind described, a body inflatable to boat shape, apair of propulsion devices attached to the under side of said body, saidbody having an outer member of waterproof fabric and an inner member ofcxpansible balloon-like material holding the outer member in shape uponexpansion by inflation, said body having a lower portionseginento-circular in cross-section extending from end to end of thebody, said inner member having a lower side resting on the bottom of thebody and an upper side spaced above said lower side and having a pair ofhollow sides extending upwardly from the lower portion said inner andouter members forming a cushioned foot supporting surface, said sidesbeing in contact at their forward and after ends and laterally spaced attheir central portions, and means adapted to secure a users foot to saidbody, each propulsion device extending across said body, and hingedthereto to swing between vertical and horizontal position rearwardlyfrom its hinge.

6. In a device of the kind described, a body inflatable to boat shape, apair of propulsion devices attached to the under side of said body, saidbody having an outer member of Waterproof fabric and an inner member ofexpansible balloon-like material holding the outer member in shape uponexpansion by inflation, said body having a lower portionsegmento-circular in cross-section extending from end to end of thebody, said inner member having a lower side resting on the bottom of thebody and an upper side spaced above said lower side and having a pair ofhollow sides extending upwardly from the lowerportion said inner andouter members forming a cushioned foot supporting surface, said sidesbeing in contact at their forward and after ends and laterally spaced attheir central portions, and means adapted to secure a users foot to saidbody, said means including a platform resting on the lower portion ofthe body and having its end portions extending beneath the contactingside portions at each end of the body and further including footengaging straps carried by said body and leg straps supported from saidsides, each propulsion device extending across said body and hingedthereto to swing between vertical and horizontal position rearwardlyfrom its hinge.

7. In a device of the kind described, a body inflatable to boat shape, apair of propulsion devices attached to the under side of said body, saidbody having an outer member of waterproof fabric and an inner member ofexpansible balloon-like material holding the outer member in shape uponexpansion by inflation, said body having a lower portionsegmento-circular in cross-section extending from end to end of thebody, said inner member having a lower side resting on the bottom of thebody and an upper side spaced above said lower side and having a pair ofhollow sides extending upwardly from the lower portion said inner andouter members forming a cushioned foot supporting surface, means adaptedto secure a users foot to said body, each propulsion device extendingacross said body and hinged thereto to swing between vertical andhorizontal position rearwardly from its hinge, and a keel memberextending forwardly from the front face of the blade.

8. In a device of the kind described, a body inflatable to boat shape, apair of propulsion devices attached to the under side of said body, saidbody having an outer member of waterproof fabric and an inner member ofexpansible balloon-like material holding the outer member in shape uponexpansion by inflation, said body having a lower portionsegmento-circular in cross-section extending from end to end of thebody, said inner member having a lower side resting on the bottom of thebody and an upper side spaced above said lower side and having a pair ofhollow sides extending upwardly from the lower portion said inner andouter members forming a cushioned foot supporting surface, said sidesbeing in contact at their forward and after ends and laterally spaced attheir central portions, and means adapted to secure a users foot to saidbody, each propulsion device extending across said body, and hingedthereto to swing between vertical and horizontal position rearwardlyfrom its hinge, and a keel member extending forwardly from the frontface of the blade.

9. In a device of the kind described, a body inflatable to boat shape, apair of propulsion devices attached to the under side of said body, saidbody having an outer member of waterproof fabric and an inner member ofexpansible balloon-like material holding the outer member in shape uponexpansion by inflation, said body having a lower portionsegmento-circular in cross-section extending from end to end of thebody, said inner member having a lower side resting on the bottom of thebody and an upper side spaced above said lower side and having a pair ofhollow sides extending upwardly from the lower portion said inner andouter members forming a cushioned foot supporting surface, said sidesbeing in contact at their forward and after ends and laterally spaced attheir central portions, and means adapted to secure a users foot to saidbody, said means including a platform resting on the lower portion ofthe body and having its end portions extending beneath the contactingside portions at each end of the body and further including footengaging straps carried by said body and leg straps supported from saidsides, each propulsion device extending across said body and hingedthereto to swing between vertical and horizontal position rearwardlyfrom its hinge, and a keel member extending forwardly from the frontface of the blade.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS986,979 Hellman Mar. 14, 1911 1,533,023 Meredith Apr. 7, 1925 1,695,191Keene Dec. 11, 1928 1,714,352 Echola May 21, 1929 1,719,059 Krupka etal. July 2, 1929 FOREIGN PATENTS 186,437 Switzerland Sept. 15, 1936400,436 Italy Dec. 16, 1942 558,815 Germany Sept. 13, 1932 584,076France Jan. 29, 1925

